Young man stabbed on birthday night out in Plymouth

A BIRTHDAY night out ended in one of the worst ways possible for a young man after he was allegedly stabbed twice in the stomach before he got home.

Stephen Swain was out celebrating his 25th birthday with his partner and a friend on Saturday evening.

He became separated from his girlfriend Mandy Drew and, according to CCTV, went into TaxiFirst’s office on Union Street where he took a cab to his father’s house in West Park in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The father-of-two says he staggered out of the car to the front door of the house only to be stopped by a neighbour who showed him he had been stabbed.

The young man described how he then fell to his knees as the pain took hold over his body.

The father-of-two was rushed to Derriford hospital where he was given morphine before having a CT scan and HIV test.

The birthday boy said he cannot actually remember being attacked after consuming “more than 10” drinks in Mutley and city centre pubs.

“I was quite drunk, admittedly,” he said. “I remember knowing that I had been stabbed and then fell to the floor. It felt like being properly winded.

“I can’t get off the sofa without someone helping me at the moment. When I cough I get a shooting pain through the middle of my stomach.

“My five-year-old son has been helping me out of bed in the mornings. He won’t let me untie his shoelaces because he knows it would hurt.”

His partner Miss Drew said they were going to have to cancel his birthday celebrations with his family tomorrow (Tues) because of the suffering he is in. She said he wouldn’t be able to blow out his candles because he is struggling to breathe.

A police spokeswoman confirmed that officers were looking for further witnesses after releasing a suspect on bail.

“A 24-year-old man was allegedly stabbed in Eastbury Avenue in West Park at 4.10am on Sunday morning following an altercation between two men,” said the spokeswoman.

“The victim received two stab wounds to the stomach. Police were alerted by the ambulance service.

“A 46-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault and released on bail until May 19 pending further inquiries.”

Any witnesses with information should contact the police on 101 quoting the reference EC/14/865.